Chapter 814: Would Saying a Few More Words Kill You?
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Since Mingzhu was directly involved in the roster incident, Yuwen Chu took her along to meet Princess Consort Cui. None of the three had eaten yet, so Mingzhu arranged for a dining table to be set under the elm tree in the courtyard and warmly invited Princess Consort Cui to join them.
Princess Consort Cui refused, so she kept persuading him, even instructing Wei Tiande to drag him over and press him into a seat. She then personally set his place with tableware, speaking gently, “It’s just a simple meal, Uncle. Don’t be too nervous. It’s not the first time you’ve dined with our Highness. No matter how much the Grand Princess causes trouble, you will always be our uncle. That won’t change.”
She felt that for someone like Princess Consort Cui, who was sensible and willing to stand on their side, they should cherish and care for him even more, making him feel the warmth of spring and reassurance, so that his heart wouldn’t feel cold. So, she didn’t care about Yuwen Chu’s thoughts or his expression and just arranged things on her own.
She noticed Yuwen Chu looking at her several times, but he still kindly helped Princess Consort Cui with his food and smiled, “Mingzhu is right. Uncle has been busy for a day and night, probably starving. Let’s eat first and fill our stomachs before dealing with things, shall we?”
Princess Consort Cui was sobbing, repeatedly apologizing. Yuwen Chu had someone hand him a hot towel. When Princess Consort Cui finally managed to calm down, the food had already gone cold.
Mingzhu had fresh hot food brought in and warmly served them, but it turned out she ate the most among the three. Yuwen Chu only had half a bowl of rice and a bowl of soup before putting down his chopsticks, while Princess Consort Cui could only manage a few bites of rice before losing his appetite.
Yuwen Chu sighed, “Uncle, just say what you want. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do my best.”
Princess Consort Cui cried and kowtowed to him, “The little beast in my family doesn’t know right from wrong. He has caused great trouble for His Highness and the country. I know I have no face to speak, but as a father, I can’t just watch my son die. He’s my only son. I won’t say more, I just beg His Highness to spare his life.”
Yuwen Chu gestured for Wei Tiande to help Princess Consort Cui up. “Many important officials have died this time, and too many people are implicated. It’s impossible for him to walk away unscathed. As for the punishment, it depends on Longsheng Great Eldest Princess’s intentions.”
Like Mingzhu, he didn’t address Longsheng Great Eldest Princess as “aunt,” which implied the inevitable fate of Longsheng Great Eldest Princess. Princess Consort Cui wiped his tears. “Just give the orders, and I’ll go talk to her.”
Yuwen Chu looked into the distance and said lightly, “It’s not difficult to say. As long as she’s willing to publicly admit her dealings with Zhongshan Wang and that she orchestrated this whole thing, it will be enough.”
Was Longsheng Great Eldest Princess supposed to take all the blame? Would they just let the Great Empress Dowager off? Mingzhu was a bit puzzled at first, but then she understood. In the current crisis, with unstable public opinion, if more scandals about the Great Empress Dowager were to spread, it would lead to further unrest and eventual defeat.
The best solution would indeed be for Longsheng Great Eldest Princess to take all the blame. After all, she was Zhongshan Wang’s elder sister and had a bad reputation in the past. She had even attempted to flee before. Adding another charge like this wouldn’t make much of a difference.
Princess Consort Cui also realized this. Looking at Yuwen Chu, there was a hint of admiration in his eyes. Despite being implicated by the Great Empress Dowager, Yuwen Chu was still willing to put the country and the overall situation first. This was the demeanor of a wise monarch.
“I’ll go talk to her.” Once he got the confirmation, Princess Consort Cui couldn’t wait any longer. He quickly got up to bid farewell, but after taking a few steps, he remembered his son and hesitated, “My little b*stard…?”
Yuwen Chu said, “I’ll have someone take him to the prison, but I’ll also do my best to ensure his safety. This is the law of the country, and there’s no room for compromise.”
If Longsheng Great Eldest Princess remained unrepentant, then Third Master Cui would surely be scapegoated, and Longsheng Great Eldest Princess would ultimately face death. Princess Consort Cui silently retreated.
Watching his figure leave, Mingzhu couldn’t help but sigh, “No wonder they say, if you have a grudge against someone but can’t retaliate, just raise a daughter to harm their family. The late emperor must have really disliked the Cui family, right?”
It was originally a joke, but Yuwen Chu answered her seriously, “The Cui family is an ancient and powerful clan with many talented individuals. The late emperor indeed didn’t quite like them, so he forcibly split them into two branches, one being the Qingxi Cui family where mother-in-law is from, and the other being the Duliang Cui family where Princess Consort Cui is from. The emperor married Longsheng into the Cui family, seeming to show favor, but actually it was a form of suppression. Cui Weiyou, the eldest son of this generation of the Duliang Cui family, is young and talented. If he married a princess, he wouldn’t be able to achieve much in his lifetime. He could only just become a strict husband.”
This statement was half true and half false, but Mingzhu couldn’t help but smile at it, “If Longsheng Great Eldest Princess remains unrepentant, will His Highness really take Third Master Cui’s life?”
Yuwen Chu said coldly, “He’s seeking his own death. Even his own mother can’t spare his life. How can he blame others for not showing him mercy?” Maybe feeling that his tone was too harsh, imposing for a subordinate, but not suitable for a wife, he changed his tone again, speaking softly, “Do you think I’m too idle? I’ll leave this matter to you to handle. Longsheng will definitely resist to the end, and Cui Weiyou will come back to plead. When that time comes and I’m not around, you’ll handle it. Anyway, do as you wish. Just remember, both of these people are unworthy of mercy. Even if I spare Third Master Cui’s life, it’s only for the sake of Cui Weiyou’s face.”
She hadn’t yet truly participated in governmental affairs, and she worried about what would happen if she made a mistake. Mingzhu instinctively wanted to refuse, but she held back and said, “I’ll do my best.”
Yuwen Chu encouraged her, “You can definitely do it. Arrange things in Yinghui Hall as you see fit. Select a group of people and gradually choose a few good ones. As for Su Lan, don’t worry. I’ll do my best to protect her if possible.”
No words made Mingzhu happier than these. She bowed to thank Yuwen Chu, who naturally wouldn’t allow it. “We are husband and wife; there’s no need for such formalities.”
Mingzhu whispered, “Though we are husband and wife, we are also sovereign and subject. Your Highness grows more dignified by the day, and I fear making mistakes that might embarrass you.” Fu Cong had specifically warned her that Yuwen Chu would rise higher and higher, and she needed to know her place to avoid losing it. This seemed to be the path all loving imperial couples eventually took, growing more distant over time. One person rises ever higher, while the other looks up in admiration. Thinking of the past inevitably brought a sense of melancholy.
Yuwen Chu looked at Mingzhu’s half-lowered eyelashes for a long time without speaking. When Mingzhu tried to leave, he gently held her hand and said softly, “Zhu Zhu, this isn’t the life I want. I want your respect, but not your reverence. I want your trust, not your vigilance. I don’t want you to sleep with furrowed brows, thinking only you can protect the children and yourself. When I knew I could marry you, I was ecstatic and secretly vowed to make you happier than any other woman. But in reality, it’s not enough. Living together isn’t as simple as I thought. I’ve been too busy these past few years and have neglected you. I’m sorry.”
Mingzhu’s tears flowed instantly. She wanted to say a few words to him, such as that he had treated her well enough, and it was her own greed and incompetence that she couldn’t express. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it. She cried directly, pouting, “I know you’re very busy and tired, but can you spare a little time for us, mother? Just saying a few more words could solve everything. Why won’t you say it? Will it kill you to do so?”
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